Correspondence.

Correspondence .

V ' e do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , bat we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE OLD MASONIANS AT MANCHESTER . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have much pleasure in informing you that the first meeting of Old Masonians in theiprovince was held at the Tweedale Restaurant , Manchester , on

Saturday , the Sth inst . The chair was occupied by W . Bro . John Slyman , P . P . G . D . Lanes ., who was supported by W . Bros . William Goodacre , Prov . G . Sec . W . Lanes , j J . Howers , and a goodly number of Old Boys . Letters of regret were received from W . Bros . John Newton , Prov . G . Sec . E . Lanes . ; W . Bowden , H . Nail , and several other prominent brethren and old boys of the School .

The Chairman , in proposing the toast of "The Old Masonians , " remarked that this was the first meeting of Old Boys in the provinces . He reviewed the career of the Association from its birth in 1 SS 6 , and emphasised tbe value of snch societies in fostering the good fellowship always existing among Old Boys of an English school , and in encouraging the continuance of former friendships . He also laid stress on the hope that members of the Craft would do what they could for the boys by finding them situations on leaving school .

Mr . E . Hair ( Liverpool ) , in responding , drew attention to the fact that the Association is in possession of a fund for the assistance of any member who may be temporarily in need of it . Mr . A . O . Crompton ( Representative of the Association in Manchester ) , who has worked hard to arrange this meeting , also replied . The toast of " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " proposed by Bro . Lewis Taylor ( O . M . ) , was enthusiastically received .

W . Bro . W . Goodacre fully sympathised with the object of the meeting , and wished it hearty success . The same sentiment found expression in the remaining speeches , which also included interesting reminiscences of school life . Loud applause was elicited when it was incidentally mentioned thit an Old Boy , Colonel Sparkes , had led one of the Soudanese regiments at tbe bittle of Omdurman .

An attractive and varied programme was elliciently rendered , and the usual toasts having been given , the National Anthem terminated a highly successful gathering . This provincial meeting having proved so successful , a similar one is now being arranged to be held in Cardiff in two or thrse weeks' time , and others are expected to follow .

While trusting that I do not trespass on your valuable time and spice too much , may I again ask your favour in noticing these provincial meetings of Old Boys in your columns , and very much oblige . —Yours fraternally , H . LEWIS . April 12 ,

Reviews.

Reviews .

"MASONIC YEAR BOOK KOR THE PROVINCE OK CAMBRIDGE , 1 S 99 . " ( IF . P . Spalding , 43 , Sidney-street , Cambridge . )—This annual for 1 S 99 is a little gem , and is very tastefully printed by the Editor , Printer , and Publisher , Bro . W . P . Spalding . The editorship is equal to the quality of the typography , and that is saying a good deal , but none too much , for the dainty wee brochure . The statistics of the Province are duly detailed in a separate page , as should be generally done , and exl ibit the fact of the six lodges returning 45 G members to October , 18 9 8 , but as now " me arc seven , " through the addition cf No . 2727 , Ely , the total membership is further increased by -iG , so that

the acquisition of another lodge is not likely to reduce the average , so it will prove it was needed . _ The particulars are well arranged as to the lodges , chapters , and other Masonic Becies in the county , and as the list of former Grand Superintendents of the Royal Arch is given , it would be as well to add similar information as to the Provincial Grand Lodge at p . 7 , which is rather " thin . " There are four Royal Arch chapters , two Maik lodges , one preceptory , and two Rose Croix chapters in the county ( or city ) , and members of all these Degrees will find the " Year Book " a never-failing guide for all such matters . The Preface is an excellent feature , and so is the Almanack .

ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF FREEMASONRY , and its Analogy to the Eschatology of Ihe Ancient Egyptians , as witnessed by the " Book of the Dead , " and the Great Pyramid of Ghizeh , the First Masonic Temple in the World . By Albert Churchward , M . D ., M . R . C . P ., M . R . C . S ., F . G . S ., P . M ., P . Z ., iS ° , & c . London : Printed and Published by Sir Joseph Causton and Sons , Limited , 9 , Eastcheap , 1 S 9 S . Bro . _ Dr . Churchward ' s object in writing this book will be gathered from his lirst chapter in which he claims to be in a position to prove " that the whole principles and

tem ts of the Craft are the truest copy we have in existence ( handed down fram generation lo geneiat : on ) of the Eschatology of the Egyptians at the time when their Mythology and Belief were perfected in their Eschatology ; and that they built the great Pyramid of Ghizeh in Egypt as a monument and lasting memorial of their religion . " Of the very clcse correspondence existing between the secret passages and chambers of the Great Pyramid and those poitiayed in the sacred papyrus describing the 1 Entrance on Light , ' which we at thc present time call the Hook of the Deadbut whicii

, Ihe Egyptian piicsts entitled The Book of the Master of the Secret House , " some very re malleable evidence is to be found in Mr . Marshain Adams's "The House ofthe Hidden Places , " and also in his later work , to which we had the pleasure of calling our readers' attention recently— "The Book ofthe Maste : "—thi-evidence being conlirmed , as Mr . Adams tells us in the Preface to his later work , by ihe distinguished Egyptologist PiofessorMaspcro , who remarked ina letter to Mr . Adams that "The Pyramids and the Hook of llic Dead rt produce the same originals , the one in words , the other in

stcne . " Thus Mr . Adams and Bro . Churchward have been traversing common ground , but each with a different purpose in view ; Mr . Adams being desirous of enlightening Ihe world , as far as possible , as to the creed of the ancient I-Lgyptians , and the marvellous correspondence of ils tenets and principles with those of the religion which , centuries upon centuries later in thc world ' s history , was revealed by the Divine Founder of Christianity and His eailicst disciples . The task which Bro . Churchward has set himself is to establish a similar correspondence between the principles and tenets of

Freemasonry and those embodied in the eschatology of the Egyptians , ln his attempt to fulfil this task he has brought together within the compass of a not over-long essay a mass of most interesting and valuable information , and those will be the best able to follow him in his exposition who are conveisant with the ritual of Craft and Royal Arch Masonry . 7 here is , indeed , no doubt that he has succeeded in tracing much of the symbolism with which wc , as Masons , have become familiar in our lodges , and our chief regret is that hc has not been somewhat clearer and more distinct in his ex position . I Ie seems to have taken it for granted that a considerable number of brethren are familiar

with the contents of the sacred papyri of tne ancient Egyptian priesthood , and thit refeience to this and that papyrus will enable them to f .-llow him closely through the various stages of his argument . VVe dare say this arises from his desire to compress his essay into as moderate a compass as possible , but we think he would have done better had heallowed some additional space for purposes of elucidation . Hid he done so , the reader would have been in a better position to judge of the extent to which Bro . Churchward has succeeded in demonstrating , as in the concluding paragraph of the book he claims to have demonstrated , " that our rites and ceremonies , as well as the principal

Reviews.

tenets of the Craft , have descended from remotest ages "—of this , indeed , there is no doubt— " and that some of our signs and symbols were those used in representing the Astronomical Mythology of the Ancient Egyptians , and afterwards as sacred symbols , when the Mythology was perfected in their Eschatology ; and that the G . P . " ( Great Pyramid ) " was the first and still remains the greatest Masonic Temple in the world , open to all Masons who can read symbolically what was written in stone ; ages ago , teaching the principles that we teach ; that to all just , upright , and true Masons there is nothing to fear , and that the Grand Mister waits abwe reidy to receive with joy the souls of those who fail not in the hour of trial . "

We have much pleasure in adding that the book is well printed and handsomely bound and that the illustrations , of which there is a considerable number , will be found of great use by the reader .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Ranelagh Lodge , No . 834 . This lodge held its installation meeting on the nth inst . at the Criterion , Piccadilly-circus , when the W . M ., Bro . James Banks , presided . There was an excellent attendance , and among the brethren present were Bros . Robert Philips , I . P . M . ; J . Worth , S . W . ; E . D . Richards , J . W . ; W . J . Coplestone , P . M ., Sec . ; Ed . Lucas S . D . ; H . Storks , J . D . ; George E . White , D . C . ; Henry J . Inderwick , I . G . ; W . F . Wilkins and H . W . Dyne , Stwds . : Fred Craggs , P . M . ; Arthur Williams , P . M . ;

C . Barker , P . M . ; F . J . Oliver , P . M ., Org . ; H . Purdue , P . M . ; E . Newland , P . M . ; 1 . H . King , ] . H . Schwazir , A . King , A . W . Pettit , 1 . Pope , T . W . Potts , W . I . Bennett , W . P . Williams , A . J . Dalton , C . W . Scott , E . W . Stringer , E . Edwirds , and J . G . Cantrell . Visitors : Bros . Herbert ReiI , W . M . 1275 ; S . Dreweil , I . G . 1310 ; J . J . Pontine , S . W . 2032 ; N . Cawley , S . W . 172 ; H . J . Cousens , VV . M . 172 ; R . Williams , P . M . 17 ( 57 , P . G . D . Middlesex ; John R . Jeffane Becte , < j < So ; Stephen J . Parker , P . M . 2512 ; W , Hinds , P . M . 1 S 5 ; J . Field , 144 ; E . R . Painter , 7 6 G ; R . L . Miyne , 504 ; Avalon Collard , 254 S ; and II . Massey , P . M . and P . Z . 619 and 192 S .

A very full paper of business was before the brethren ; the three Degrees hid to b ; worked ; the new Worshipful Master had to be installed j the new officers inv ; stel , an ! several gifts of money to be propised , seconded , and adopted ; and a jeival to be presented to the outgoing Master . The lodge , therefore , was called for three o'clock in the afternoon , and banquet was appiinted to take place at eight — a rather late hour , considering that an abundant entertainment of music was to fo'low . But all the work was got through , and the dinner hour was punctually kept .

The outgoing Master , Bro . Banks , raised Bro . J . A . Schwarar to the Third Digree , and parsed to ihe Second Degree Bros . Tom Pope and Thomas Potts . The report of th : Audit Committee was adopted , and Bro . Arthur Williams , P . M ., installed Bro . John Worth as W . M . Bro . James Binks received the cellar of I . P . M ., and later on wis presented with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel . The officers for the year were Bros . E . D . Richards , S . W . ; E . Lucas , I . W . ; G . F . Butt , P . M ., Treis . ; W . J , Copplestone , P . M ., Sec . ; H . Stokes , S . D . ; H . J . Inderwick , J . D . ; G . F . White ,

l . G . ; F . Craggs , P . M ., D . C . ; M . F . Wilkins , A . D . C . ; * H . W . Dyne and W . J Bennett , Stwds . ; and G . Mallett , P . M ., Tyler . On the mation of Bro . Arthur Williams , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Henry Purdue , P . M ., 10 guineas were voted to the Girls' School ; 20 guineas to the Boys' School ; and 20 guineas to the Old People ' s Institution . The new Worshipful Master next initiated Mr . Richard Edward Williams in Freemasonry , performing the work in an admirable minner . Bro . Coplestone read the circular issued by the Grand Secretary , together with the

resolutions passed in Grand Lodge in March last with reference to the Grand Lodge of Peru restoring that Grand Lodge to the recognition of Grand Lodge of England on their having withdrawn their edict removing the Volume of the Sacred Law from the meetings of the Grand Lodge of Peru and its subordinate lodges , and all mention of it in their ceremonies . In accordance with the directions of the Grand Secretary's circular these documents were ordered to be entered on the minutes of th ; Ranelagh Lodge . Some other business having been transacted , the Iodge was closed , and the brethren

adjourned to an excellent banquet . Subsequently thc toasts were honoured , and Bros . Dyne , P . M . ; Oliver , P . M . ; Frank Boor , and Richard Green performed some beautiful vocal music betwe : n the speeches . Bro . James Banks , I . P . M ., in proposing the toast of "The Worshipful Master , " remarked that too much could not be said in favour of Bro . Worth as a M isonie worker ;

he was first and foremost in every good cause . Bro . Worth was a young Mason , but still hc had gone up as a Steward for the Boys' Institution with high honours , and this year he intended to go up for the Girls' School . All the brethren knew Bro . Worth well , and they all felt that the Ranelagh Lodge would lose none of its lustre under the kind and genial Mastership of Bro . John Worth , whom they wished a very pleasant and successful year of ofiice .

Bro . John Worth , W . M ., replying , said he was not much of a speaker , and the brethren must not expect a great speech from him . The lirst time he had the honour of replying to a toast in the Kanelagh Lodge was IJ years agJ , when he sa on the right of the W . M ., Bro . Dobson . Since that time he had hid nuny opporlunitics of responding to toasts , but with all that practice he had not been able to accom - plish fluent speaking . On the first occasion of his addressing the brethren of the Ranelagh Lodge he felt very proud that they had elected him as worthy to be initiated ;

but to-night he felt more proud at being placed in the Master ' s chiir . It wis the height of the ambition of all Masons to be Master of their mother lodge . He had held every office in this lodge from Assistant Steward to W . M . During those years he hid never once been absent at thc opening of the lodge to do his work . It had not always been easy to be so present , but he had accomplished the task , and to-night he felt mire than repaid for the energy he had used . The brethren must have appreciated the little he had done or they would not have elected him as their Master . He thanked them , and promised lo do his best lor the Rane ' agh Lodge and for Freemasonry .

Bro . James Banks , I . P . M ., in replying to the toast of " The I . P . M ., " proposed by the W . M ., who said Bro . Banks had canied out the duties of W . M . most ably and with credit to himself and satisfaction to the brethren , thanked them for their cordiality in receiving the toast , and said his year of ollice had been the red-letter year of his life ; it had been a year of Masonic business in the lodge , a year of perfect peace and harmony , a fact which spoke volumes forthe goodwill and heartiness which had been shown to him by all . That had made his work easy , and he hoped every succeeding Master would have as many friends around him as he had had . He was proud to hand over the gavel with such a prosperous ba ' ance-sheet to his successor .

Bro . Williams responded to the toast of " The Initiate , " and slid he felt more than thankful the brethren had made him a member of their body . He hoped to prove by his future conduct to be a good Mason , that his affection for thc brethren mi ^ ht bi strengthened , are ! that they might not find they had made a mistake in admitting him . Bro . John Worth , W . M ., next proposed " The Masanic Charities , " which he knew were gcod Institutions . He was going up as Steward for the Girls ' , Bro . Dyne for the Boys ' , and Bro . Dalton for the Old People . He would be glad if individual brethren would support their lists . He should like to see his own list made up to 100 guineas .

Bro . A . Williams , P . M ., in acknowledging the toast , a'ter remarking that charges had been made against Masons of indulging in eating and drinking and neglecting their homes , said a great deal had been done by brethren to disprove those charges by showing that Masonry taught that Charity was thc highest form of godliness , and that to relieve distress was thc vcry highest honour a Freemason could boast of taking put in . Many members of the Ranelagh Lodge had taken a position more or less profitable

in that direction , and the lodg ; e had made a bold step forward in supporting the Charities . It had had to call upon those Institutions lor their benevolence , as some of its members had required assistance . It had sent up Stewards to those Charities , and that evening a Stewardship had been taken for each of the three . On the Centenary of thc Girls' School seven Stewards went up from the Ranelagh Lodge , each taking his own list . To-night the three Institutions obtained Stewards , and , therefore , brethren could support whom they pleased , and he hoped they would give a substantial sum .

Bro . Pratt , P . M ., who also replied , referred to the West London Masonic Election Association , of which Bro . A . Williams was Secretary , and which had been established five years . It had a large number of members . Before it was established there were five others , but they failed , for the reason that every member was bound tj bring his votes into them . The West London had a by-law that each could give his vote as he liked .